Wireless telephone system with intercom signalling and auxiliary station

ABSTRACT

A wireless extension telephone system including a base unit connected to a telephone line and a remote extension unit. Both base and extension units each include a radio receiver and a radio transmitter. Also associated with the base unit is an auxiliary telephone and switch operated intercom signalling means, which when manually operated cause a radio signal to the transmitted to the remote unit for signalling purposes after which conversation may insue between users of the auxiliary telephone and the remote extension unit.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

U.S. patent applications, Ser. Nos. 450,405; 450,407; 450,408, 450,410;and 450,420 filed on the same date as the present application and Ser.No. 450,497 filed on Mar. 23, 1983 are related to the presentapplication.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field

The present invention relates to telephone systems and more particularlyto a subscriber's extension telephone that includes a wireless linkbetween the telephone instrument and an associated telephone line,allowing a subscriber to relocate the telephone instrument at will, yetstill make and receive telephone calls in a conventional manner.

2. Background Art

Since the invention of the telephone, personal communication betweenindividuals has grown so that the majority of all individuals in theUnited States and many other countries all have telephone servicereadily available. Rather than reach a saturation point when each familyhas been equipped with a single telephone, the growth trend hascontinued so that at present many individuals or families have not one,but several telephones for use in their residences.

The use of second and third telephones as extension units throughout aresidence has become increasingly widespread. Previously, when only onetelephone was installed in a home a central location for this instrumentwas chosen. However, no single location is perfect; and as a resultfrequently the housewife while performing daily chores is forced to comesome distance, particularly in a large home, to the location of thetelephone either to make or receive telephone calls. If the subscriberis in the yard, porch or basement, etc., the lack of proximity to atelephone instrument often results in extra steps and possibly missing atelephone call if the subscriber is unable to respond within areasonably short period of time after the commencement of a ringingsignal announcing the incoming call. In the trend toward so-calledoutdoor living today, the subscriber is frequently required to go fromthe garden or patio to the nearest telephone to answer it. In many casesthis may be a substantial distance.

Several solutions to this problem have been proposed. Among these arethe use of a number of extension telephones placed in convenientlocations throughout the residence. The other is the use of amultiplicity of telephone line jacks, all connected to the telephoneline, allowing the subscriber to move a plug equipped telephoneinstrument from one location to another to always be within easy access.Still another, is the use of long extension cords to connect thetelephone instrument to its associated terminal thus allowing limitedfreedom in relocating the telephone. Obviously, all of these solutionslack flexibility since the location of the extension telephone or theextension jack while useful at times will still on many occasions beinadequate.

The most satisfactory solution to the extension telephone problem liesin the use of a telephone extension instrument that requires no wireconnections between the instrument and the telephone line. An instrumentsuch as this utilizing radio waves between terminal equipment connectedto the telephone line and the instrument itself permits the subscriberto locate the telephone instrument any place within a specified range oftelephone line terminal equipment located in the home or other locationthus permitting the subscriber to both receive and make telephone callsat some distance from that terminal. Such a wireless extension telephonecould be taken to the garden, patio, basement, upstairs, downstairs,etc., and placed in any room in the house as well as possibly carriedwith the subscriber while visiting a neighbor, so that incomingtelephone calls would not be missed and so that they might be rapidlyanswered without considerable moving about on the part of thesubscriber. The advantages of a wireless telephone instrument forsubscribers is readily apparent, particularly in the home.

However, it should be pointed out that this same type of instrumentwould find considerable use in restaurants and other commercialestablishments where a person to whom an incoming call is directed wouldhave the telephone brought to him for answering without the necessityfor intervening extension cords or other connections. Obviously, thenumber of possible uses for wireless extension telephones are limitedonly by the imagination of the users.

Early attempts to provide wireless extension telephones are disclosed inU.S. Pat. No. 2,129,332 to Mastini issued Sept. 6, 1938 and U.S. Pat.No. 2,894,121 to R. P. Phillips which issued on July 7, 1959. Both ofthese patents disclose simple wireless extension telephones employingvacuum tubes. In both instances, incoming telephone calls cause atransmitter associated with the telephone line to generate a carriersignal which is detected by a remote receiver. Likewise, calls initiatedat a remote unit are effected by turning on a transmitter, with thecarrier signal being detected by a receiver associated with thetelephone line. The obvious disadvantage of size and large batteryrequirement etc. stem from the utilization of vacuum tubes, whilereliance on detection of carrier wave signals for supervision, i.e.:"on" and "off" hook signal dialing, etc., is less than satisfactorybecause of the possible effect of RF interference caused from extraneoussources.

A substantially improved wireless extension telephone is disclosed inU.S. Pat. No. 3,193,623, issued on July 6, 1965 to R. V. Burns et al.The disclosed wireless extension telephone consisted of transistorizedremote base and extension units with the obvious advantages ofminiaturization as well as low battery drain. Additionally, full duplexoperation is disclosed. "Off" and "on" hook supervision and dialing areaccomplished by means of tone generation and detection rather than theuse of RF carrier techniques taught in many of the prior art patents. Inthe Burns et al patent a tone of a first audio frequency superimposed onthe RF carrier provides "off" and "on" hook control from the remote unitand a second audio tone generated at the remote unit provides dial pulsecontrol. A number of other units employing different techniques such assequential control, "touch calling" signalling, etc., have been taughtin U.S. Pat. No. 3,721,771, 4,039,760 and 4,053,717. All of the aboveunits, however, suffer from one or more defects in the area ofreliability, size, battery consumption or security. Accordingly, it isthe object of the present invention to provide a new and improvedwireless extension telephone overcoming those shortcomings found in manyprevious wireless extension telephones.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention consists of two principal portions: a base stationconnected to a telephone line and a remote station adapted to be locatedwith the base station when not in use so that the internal batteriescontained therein may be recharged. The remote unit, however, isremovable from the base unit and because of its small size extremelyportable and capable of being located any place within the operatingrange of transmitters and receivers contained in both base and remoteunits.

The base unit as connected to the telephone line includes aself-compensating network similar to that found in many commercialtelephones and particularly like that found in a subscriber's unitdesignated Solitare®II manufactured by GTE Automatic ElectricIncorporated. Also connected to the line is a ringing signal detectorfor determining the presence of incoming ringing signals over thetelephone line.

A receiver operable at the same frequency as the transmitter in theremote unit is included in the base station as is a transmitteroperating on a second frequency. This second frequency is the same asthe receiver operating frequency at the remote unit. Because of the useof two separate and distinct frequencies for transmit and receive inopposite directions between base and remote units, the advantages offull duplex operation are enjoyed.

A power supply included at the base unit provides the necessaryoperating potentials to the circuitry included in the base unit as wellas providing power for charging the batteries included in the remoteunit when the remote unit is not in operation. Also included in the basestation are a combination security tone oscillator and tone filtercircuit utilized when the unit is in the "off" hook condition as afilter for incoming security tone signals and in the "on" hook conditionas an oscillator to signal the remote unit by means of a discretesecurity tone to indicate that the telephone line is ringing and thecall should be answered. Connected to the security toneoscillator/filter circuit is an "on" hook/"off" hook control circuitwhich is response to the incoming security tone conditions the telephoneto go to the "off" hook condition. An associated security tone detectordetects the security tone from the remote unit and prevents unauthorizedremote units from seizing the telephone line.

The base unit further includes a modulator which is connected betweenthe telephone line and a base unit transmitter for the application ofaudio signals to the transmitter for re-transmission to the remote unit.A gain control or oscillator keyer is provided as well as an audioamplifier that applies audio signals from the receiver included in theremote unit to the telephone line.

Of particular interest in the present unit is the facility for adding anauxiliary phone and a capability by means of the operation of a switchon the base unit whereby the auxiliary phone connected to the remoteunit can then contact the remote unit on a local or intercom basis. Thisfeature can also be utilized in connection with central office calls forthree way conversations.

Much of the structure of the remote unit is similar to that found in thebase unit, i.e., there is included a receiver and transmitter operatingon frequencies the same as the transmitter and receiver respectively atthe base unit. A combination oscillator/filter for generating andreceiving security tone with the filter functioning to detect securitytone during a remote unit "off" hook condition and acting as anoscillator for generating security tone when the unit is "on" hook.Connected to the oscillator/filter is the ringer/oscillator amplifierwhich when the security tone is detected by the receiver and passedthrough the security tone filter generates a tone signal applying it tothe remote unit ear piece as an alternating signal. An amplifier is alsoconnected between the ear piece and the remote unit receiver foramplification of incoming signals detected by the remote unit receiverand transmitted from the base unit. The microphone included in theremote unit is connected to a modulator which in turn applies voicesignals to the transmitter for transmission to the base unit.

Also included in the remote unit is a dialing circuit which employs acommercially available pulse dialer activated from a ten button keyboard unit included in the remote unit. A loopstick of conventionaldesign is employed as an antenna for the receiver at the remote unitwhile the transmitter is coupled to a dipole antenna included in thehousing of the remote unit.

At the base unit the receiver is connected to a whip antenna while thebase unit transmitter is capacitively coupled through an RF choke coilto the AC line providing power to the base unit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1 and 2 placed together with FIG. 1 to the left of FIG. 2 comprisea combination schematic and block diagram of a base unit for a wirelesstelephone extension unit in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a combination schematic and block diagram of a remote unit fora wireless extension telephone in accordance with the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The circuitry of the base unit will be described initially. Referringfirst to FIG. 1, the Tip lead of the telephone line connected atterminal T is extended through intercom switch contact 101A and wiper101F, (shown in the "normal" non-operated position), through open relaycontacts 162A which are not operated at this time, through bridgecircuit 106 and terminal R to the Ring conductor of the telephone line.A by-pass circuit extending from switch 101 directly to bridge circuit106 including capacity 102, resistor 103 and diodes 104 and 105 providesspark suppression for contacts 162A. Also connected to line terminal Tthrough capacitor 107 and resistor 108 is bridge circuit 111 whosereturn is to terminal R of the line.

Bridge 111 forms a portion of ring detector circuit 110 which alsoincludes light emitting diode (LED) 112 and photo transistor 113 (whichcombined comprise an optical coupler. Additionally, included in the ringdetector are resistors 114, 116, 119 and 121, capacitors 115 and 118,diode 117 and operational amplifier 120. Associated with the ringdetector circuitry is operational amplifier 123 (and associated resistor122) which acts as a buffer to transmit operate gate 125.

As noted previously, the connection to the telephone line at terminals Tand R, the Tip lead is extended through contact 101A on intercom switch101. Terminals TA and RA are connected to the Tip (Aux) and Ring (Aux)leads with Ring (Aux) extending through contact 101C on intercom switch101 and Tip (Aux) being connected to intercom switch wiper 101F and toone side of contacts 162A. When, intercom switch 101 is operated to theintercom position, the Tip (Aux) lead is extended through switch 101 tothe intercom signalling circuit 130 which consists of operationalamplifier 131 and resistors 132 through 137 and capacitor 138. Theoutput of the intercom signalling circuit is extended through resistor136 to the positive input of operational amplifier 120 included in thering detector circuit 110.

Connected to bridge 106 is a self compensating voice network similar tothat in the Solitare® telephone manufacture by GTE Automatic ElectricIncorporated. Included in this network are transformer 141 includingwindings 141A, 141B, 141C and 141D inclusive, varistors 142, 143 and 147and zener diode 144, resistors 149, 151 and 152 and 153, capacitors 148and 146 and microphone amplifier 145. Microphone amplifier 145 is of aspecial design simulating electrically a carbon microphone to thenetwork while permitting the usage of an electret microphone. Thecircuitry of this amplifier is described in detail in the copendingpatent application Ser. No. 273,700, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,400,588 ofHines, Light and Stobbs filed on June 15, 1981. The self-compensatingnetwork 140 receives input signals from the 49 MHz receiver 100. Thereceiver in one practical embodiment of the present invention is a dualconversion super-heterodyne 49 MHz receiver of conventional design andconstruction.

Output signals from the telephone are extended through theself-compensating network 140 to the 1.7 MHz transmitter 200 shown inFIG. 2. This transmitter is of conventional design. In a practicalembodiment employing frequency modulation, signals fromself-compensating network 140 are actually applied through modulator 290which includes operational amplifier 291 capacitor 292, and resistors294 and 295. Additional input to the modulator which shall be discussedlater, is applied through capacitor 293. The output of operationalamplifier 291 (i.e.: modulator 290) is applied to a varactor diodeincluded in transmitter 200 to provide the necessary frequencymodulation.

Before signals received by the 49 MHz receiver 100 can be extended tothe telephone line via self-compensating network 140 the signals areinitially extended through resistor 171 to filter/oscillator 210 shownin FIG. 2. Filter/oscillator 210 consists of operational amplifiers 213and 221, resistors 212 through 219 and 224, 225 and 228 as well ascapacitors 211, 222 and 223, and diodes 226 and 227. The first sectionof filter/oscillator 210 associated with operational amplifier 213 is a"Q-multiplier" with the second operational amplifier 221 acting as thefilter proper. The overall gain and band width is set by resistors 218and 219 and the frequency by resistors 216 and 217. Diodes 226, 227 andresistor 225 are inactive during the filter mode, because capacitor 253provides an AC bypass to ground via the saturated output of a transistorincluded in operational amplifier 251. Operational amplifier 251,resistor 252 and 253 form a portion of the oscillator/filter control 250which operates in response to ring detector 110. When operationalamplifier 251 is switched "off" in response to the detection of anincoming ringing signal by a ring detector 110, capacitor 253 and theincluded AC path to ground is disconnected and feedback paths throughresistors 225 and 228 and diodes 226 and 227 come into being and causethe circuitry of oscillator/filter 210 to go into oscillation. Resistor228, and diodes 226 and 227, limit the amplitude of the oscillation andinsure a constant output level over a range of supply voltage andoscillatory frequency. Diode 229 functions to blind the input of theoscillator/filter 210 during ringing.

Filter/Oscillator 210 is connected to several locations including the"on" hook/"off" hook control circuit 230. This circuit consists ofoperational amplifiers 232 and 239 as well as resistors 231, 233, 234,235, 236, 238, 241, 242 and 243. Also included in the "on" hook/"off"hook control circuit 230 is capacitor 237. Operational amplifier 232functions as a threshold detector to generate the necessary dial pulsesonly by detecting the presence of high level signals at a dial pulserate from the output oscillator/filter 210. The actual control functionis performed by operational amplifier 239 which effectively causes thetelephone to go "off" hook when dial tone is detected. Control ofoperational amplifier 239 is over resistor 243 from security tonedetector 270.

Tone detector 270 is a conventionally designed tone decoder utilizing aphase locked loop integrated circuit as manufactured by NationalSemiconductor under their piece number LM567C or by other manufacturers.The security tone detector 270 detects a pre-determined particularfrequency of tone generated by an associated remote unit. For example,this tone might be 5100 Hz for one combination of base and remote unitand 4800 Hz for another combination of base and remote unit. It shouldbe obvious to those skilled in the art that numerous frequencies orcombinations of frequencies may be utilized between base and remoteunits to provide the degree of security required in a particular system.The quantity of these frequencies is limited obviously only by thecapability i.e.: band width, etc. of the phase lock loop circuitry, andthe stability of same as included in the security tone detector.

An output is generated by operational amplifier 239 and extended to thebase of transistor 161 turning it on, making a path available for powerto relay 162. The operation of relay 162 at its associated contact 162Acompletes the path from the line to the transmission network 140 viabridge 106 and the circuitry of the self-compensating network 140previously outlined. When the collector of transistor 161 is conductive,an operating signal is also extended to gate circuit 125 whose output isconnected to the 1.7 MHz transmitter 200 turning it on.

Audio amplifier 280 consisting of operational amplifier 281 andresistors 282 through 286 inclusive and capacitor 287, receives voicesignals from the 49 MHz receiver 100 and applies those signals throughresistor 285 to the self-compensating network 140 through capacitor 146.Also applied through resistor 283 to operational amplifier 281 is theoutput from the security tone oscillator/filter 210 which is applied tothe positive input of operational amplifier 281 with an equal output,equal amplitude and opposite phase to the negative input of operationalamplifier 281, providing complete cancellation of the audio portion ofthe security tone signal, thus inhibiting security tone audio componentsfrom reaching the telephone line.

Gate control circuit 260 consisting of operational amplifier 261resistors 262, 264, 265 and capacitor 263 operates to inhibit thesecurity tone on the input of the 1.7 MHz transmitter 200 during normaltalking mode. Security tone signals of maximum amplitude are extendedthrough the modulator 290 to the transmitter 200 during the ringingmode.

The power supply for the wireless extension telephone base unit has notbeen shown since it is essentially of conventional design providing thenecessary potentials where required. As a portion of this circuit, areference voltage is applied throughout portions of the circuitry of thebase unit, these locations being identified at terminals marked E_(R).The power supply may also include the necessary facility for chargingbatteries included in the remote unit if desired.

The remote unit of the wireless extension telephone as shown in FIG. 3includes a 1.7 MHz receiver 300 and a 49 MHz transmitter 390, operatingto receive signals transmitted from the base unit and to transmitsignals to the base unit on two separate frequencies thus providing fullduplex operation. Both the transmitter and the receiver like those usedin the base unit are of the frequency modulation type except thereceiver is of the single conversion super-heterodyne unit and thetransmitter is crystal controlled. Power for the remote unit is providedfrom a battery which may be of the rechargeable type and as noted above,if of the rechargeable type, may be recharged by connection to the powersupply included in the base unit.

Included in the remote unit is dial circuit 350 which in a practicalembodiment of the remote unit consists of a push button dial structureof conventional design connected to an integrated circuit dial pulsegenerator. The dial pulse generator is a commercially available unitavilable from a number of different manufacturers which in response tocontact closures on the key pad produces appropriate trains of dialpulses for signalling purposes. One unit of this type is manufactured byMostek Inc. and is commercially available under their piece partMK-5175.

Much of the circuitry contained in the wireless extension telephonesremote unit is similar to that included in the base unit and describedpreviously. For example, the security tone oscillator/filter 310consisting of operational amplifiers 311, 321 and associated components312 through 317 and 322 through 328 is virtually identical inconstruction and operation to the security oscillator 210 found in thebase unit. Likewise, the control circuit utilized for changing the modeof operation of the oscillator/filter 310 from filter to oscillator iscontrol circuit 360 consisting of operational amplifier 361 andassociated resistor 362 and capacitor 363. Structurally andfunctionally, this circuit corresponds to control circuit 250 found inthe base unit.

The modulator circuit 370 while not structurally identical to themodulator in the base unit is functionally similar. The modulator 370consists of operational amplifier 373 driven by microphone 371 andadditionally including capacitor 374 and resistors 372, 375, 376, 377,378 and 379. The output of modulator 370 is applied to 49 MHztransmitter 390 where it is applied across a varactor diode whichprovides for the necessary frequency modulation of the 49 MHztransmitter.

Connected between dial circuit 350 and the modulator 370 is a transistor351 which functions as a switch to provide a ground path through thetransistor and capacitor 354 and resistor 355 to divert or reduce theamplitude of security tone signals fed to the 49 MHz transmitter andthen sent to the base unit. However, during dialing the shunt thatprovides the modified or attenuated security tone is removed allowingthe amplitude of the resultant pulses of security tone to besubstantially greater than previously.

Connected to the output of the 1.7 MHz receiver 300, in addition to theoscillator/filter 310, is an ear piece amplifier 380 for amplifyingincoming voice signals, consisting of operational amplifier 381resistors 282, 384, 386 as well as capacitor 385 and 387 and diode 383.Connected to the output of the amplifier 380 is a telephone ear piece orreceiver of conventional design 389. Also connected to ear piece 389 isthe output of ringer oscillator 330. Ringer oscillator 330 consists ofthree sections, a comparator stage consisting of operational amplifier331 and associated components 332 through 339, a switch stage consistingof operational amplifier 340 and components 341 through 344 and thefinal oscillator stage consisting of operational amplifier 345 andassociated components 346 and 349. The output of oscillator stage isfurther amplified by transistor 393 which is utilized in the emitterfollower configuration with the output connected to ear piece 389.

Of major importance also in the remote unit circuitry is hook switch 391which upon operation provides ground during the "off" hook operation ofthe wireless unit to the 49 MHz transmitter 390 and to the dial circuit350 for inhibiting ringing.

Further understanding of the present invention may be had by referenceto FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 in connection with the following description of theplacement of a telephone call by a subscriber at the wireless extensiontelephone remote unit. Initially, the subscriber goes to the operatingor "off" hook mode by operating hook switch 391. Operation of hookswitch 391 extends ground to the remote unit transmitter 390 turning iton. This also provides ground for operation of control circuit 360. Theactivation of control circuit 360 causes removal of the AC groundpreviously supplied through operational amplifier 361 and capacitor 363to oscillator/filter circuit 310. Removal of this ground causes thefilter circuit to go into the oscillation mode generating at the outputthereof and appropriate security tone. In a practical embodiment of awireless extension telephone according to the present invention, afrequency of 5100 Hz was utilized for this tone.

The output of the oscillator stage through resistors 379 and 377 isapplied to modulator 370 where the output is taken through resistor 378and extended to 49 MHz transmitter 390. Since transmitter 390 hasalready been turned on the security tone generated by oscillator 310 andapplied through modulator 370 modulates the 49 MHz carrier frequency atthat audio frequency causing the security signal to be radiated from theantenna associated with transmitter 390.

At the base unit, the 49 MHz signal from the remote unit is detected at49 MHz receiver 100 and the output thereof routed throughoscillator/filter 210 which is the present moment is functioning as afilter circuit. The tone passed through the filter 210 is then extendedto security tone detector 270 where if the frequency is the appropriateone (as determined by the internal circuitry included in security tonedetector 270), an output is generated and extended through resistor 243to the negative input of operational amplifier 239 which is a part ofthe "on" hook/"off" hook control circuit 230 of the base unit. Theoutput from "off" hook/"on" hook control circuit 230 is applied fromoperational amplifier 239 to the base of transistor 161, turning it onand providing a path to ground for relay 162 causing it to operate,closing at associated contacts 162A a path across the Tip and Ring leadsextending to the telephone line, causing line seizure. Operation oftransistor 161 also through gate 125 turns on transmitter 200.

With connection of the self-compensating network 140 through bridgecircuit 106 to the telephone line, via terminals T and R and closedcontact 162A, the proper conditions are now present for line seizure atthe associated telephone central office to which the line is connected.At this point upon line seizure, dial tone will be returned over theline and extended back through the self-compensating network 140 andspecifically through resistor 152 to modulator 290 where the dial tonesignal is then applied to transmitter 200 which is modulated at the dialtone frequency and then transmitted at a frequency of 1.7 MHz via theassociated antenna.

The radiated signal is received at the wireless extension unit remoteunit by 1.7 MHz receiver 300, with the output therefrom applied throughresistor 303 and conducted through amplifier 380 to the ear piece 389where the dial tone is heard by the subscriber. The subscriber onhearing dial tone will now operate the key pad (not shown) associatedwith dial circuit 350 to generate the required dial pulses to signal adesired other party. Output pulses from dial circuit 350 are applied tothe base of transistor 351 where for each transmitted pulse, ground isremoved at the collector which thus removes resistor 355 from itsprevious function in the modulator 370 circuit. Thus during each dialpulse this results in a high amplitude signal being extended from thesecurity tone oscillator through to the 49 MHz transmitter 390. Thishigher level dial pulse signal is then of course sent out from thetransmitter, received at the base unit receiver 100 and extended throughresistor 171 to the oscillator/filter circuit 210 which is stillfunctioning in filter mode. These dial pulse signals from filter circuit210 are then extended to the "on" hook/"off" hook control circuit 230through resistor 231 which acts to turn off integrated circuit 239 atthe dial pulse rate. This is accomplished by operational amplifier 232and its associated components which function as a threshold detector,and in response to high level (amplitude) signal, turn integratedcircuit 239 off for each received pulse signal. Thus transistor 161 atthe base unit also turns off and on at the dial pulse rate causingassociated relay 162 to operate off and on opening and closingassociated contacts 162A thus opening and closing the line at the dialpulse rate causing the dial pulses to be extended to the telephonecentral office over the line.

After the dial pulses are extended to the telephone central office, thecentral office will provide the necessary switching connection in theusual manner and provide connection to the called subscriber. Uponcompleting, said connection ring back tone is sent back from thetelephone central office over the telephone line to the wirelessextension base unit where the tone is applied to the transmitter throughthe modulator in much the same manner as the previous dial tone wasrepeated. The ring back tone is then detected at the extension unit, bythe receiver 300, amplified by ear piece amplifier 381, in turnreproduced by ear piece 389. The subscriber at the remote unit now waitsuntil the party at the called station answers after which conversationmay ensue, incoming voice signals from the telephone central officeextended to the remote station in the manner previously described. Thesubscriber at the remote unit speaks into the microphone 371 whoseoutput is applied through modulator 370 in the normal manner to thetelephone transmitter 390. At the base unit receiver 100 the voicesignals are received and coupled from the output thereof throughcapacitor 172 to the telephone line amplifier 280 whose output isextended via the self-compensating network 140, terminals T and R andthe telephone line to the telephone central office. In this manner,normal conversation from the wireless station and through the basestation to a telephone central office takes place.

At the conclusion of the conversation, the subscriber at the remotestation places his unit in the "on" hook or non-operated condition byrestoring hookswitch 391, removing ground from the 49 MHz transmitter390 and dialing circuit 350, causing termination of transmitted signalsfrom the transmitter 390. At the base station, the lack of a signalbeing detected by the 49 MHz receiver 100 removes the security tonethrough resistor 171 from the input to oscillator/filter 210 thusremoving tone from security tone detector 270 causing operationalamplifier 239 of "on" hook/"off" hook control circuit 230 to turn "off"which in turn, turns transistor 161 off, causing relay 162 to restore,opening at its associated contacts 162A, thus effectively disconnectingthe station from the telephone line. If the subscriber at the distantend of the telephone call hangs up first, dial tone will be returnedfrom the telephone central office and when this signal is heard by thesubscriber at the remote extension unit, he then realizes that he tooshould go to the "on" hook or non-operative mode after which thesequence described above will take place.

For an additional understanding of the present invention, the followingdescription will be given and will describe the extension of a callinitiated at a distant location through a telephone central office andover the telephone line to the wireless extension telephone of thepresent invention. Assuming that the telephone central office hasextended the call over the telephone line via terminals T and R to thewireless extension telephone base unit, incoming ringing signals areextended via the previously described path to ring detector circuit 110and specifically through bridge circuit 111 and the optical couplerconsisting of LED 112 and photo transistor 113 where the output isextended to operational amplifier 120 and then to mode control circuit250 causing oscillator/filter circuit 210 to go into the oscillatormode. The output of ring detector circuitry 110 is also extended throughoperational amplifier 123 to transmit control gate 125 which functionsto turn on the 1.7 MHz transmitter 200. The output from theoscillator/filter circuit 210 now operating in the oscillatory mode isapplied to modulator circuit 290 which modulates transmitter 200 at thesecurity tone frequency generated by oscillator/filter 210. Transmitter200 then transmits 1.7 MHz RF signals modulated at the security tonefrequency.

The signal transmitted by the base unit is received at the extensionunit 1.7 MHz receiver 300 and then conducted to oscillator/filtercircuit 310 which is functioning in the filter mode at the remote unit.It should be noted at this time the remote unit is still in the "on"hook or not operated condition. Output from the filter section takenfrom operational amplifier 321 is applied to the ringer oscillator 330,through to its associated amplifier transistor 393 to the ear piece 389where the operation of the ringer oscillator causes the ear piece toemit a distinctive tone to signal the presence of an incoming call tothe subscriber at the remote extension unit. On hearing the alertingsignal, the subscriber operates the hookswitch 391 placing ground ontransmitter 390 causing it to operate. The 49 MHz transmitter 390operates in the previously described manner extending a security tonesignal to the base unit where its detected presence activates all of thecircuitry at the base unit in the manner previously described.Conversation can now ensue. Disconnect after the call has been completedalso takes place in the manner previously outlined.

A final mode of operation of the wireless extension telephone inaccordance with the present invention, is that of the intercom mode. Inthis mode, it is necessary that an auxiliary telephone be connected atleads TA and RA of the base unit as shown in FIG. 1. Assuming that anincoming call has been answered by a subscriber at the auxiliary phone,and it is desired to extend that telephone call from the central officeto the wireless extension remote unit, the subscriber at the auxiliaryphone operates intercom switch 101, maintaining the switch in theoperated mode until the subscriber at the remote unit responds. When thesubscriber at the auxiliary phone operates intercom switch 101, batteryis applied through the switch contact 101D, and over terminal RA,through the auxiliary phone and terminal TA through contacts 101B to theinput of intercom signalling circuit 130 and specifically via resistor132 to the positive input of operational amplifier 131. This batteryapplication causes a periodic output from circuit 130 to be generatedand extended through resistor 136 to ring detector circuit 110 where itis detected in much the same manner as the output from the opticalcoupler previously described. When this intercom signalling is detected,the sequence of operations follows the same path as previously describedfor an incoming call.

As the name implies the intercom switch 101 can also be operated toestablish communication between the auxiliary phone connected to thebase unit and the associated wireless remote extension unit. No centraloffice call need be involved. In this mode of operation after thesubscriber at the extension unit has answered, the party at theauxiliary phone restores intercom switch to its normal position andcommunication between the extension unit and the auxiliary phone cantake place inasmuch as both phones are directly connected. It is alsopossible to establish a three way conversion between the auxiliaryphone, the wireless extension unit, and a caller accessing the presentinvention over a line from the telephone central office.

While out a single embodiment of the present invention has been shown,it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that numerousmodifications may be made to the disclosed embodiment without departingfrom the spirit and scope of the invention which shall be limited onlyby the claims appended thereto.

What is claimed is:
 1. A wireless extension telephone system comprising:an extension unit including a radio receiver and a signal transducerconnected to said receiver; a base unit including a signalling circuitand switching means connected to said signalling circuit, manuallyoperated to render said signalling circuit operated, signal generatingmeans, ringing detection means, connected between said signallingcircuit and said signal generating means, operated in response to saidoperated signalling circuit to render said signal generating meansoperated, a radio transmitter including circuit connections to saidringing detection means, conditioned in response to operation of saidringing detection means, and said radio transmitter connected to saidsignal generating means, operated in response to said signal generatingmeans to transmit signals received from said signal generating means;and said receiver at said extension unit operated in response to receiptof said signals transmitted from said base unit transmitter to extendsaid signals to the said signal transducer.
 2. A subscriber's extensiontelephone system as claimed in claim 1 wherein: the said base unitfurther includes connections to a telephone line, and said switchingmeans is normally connected to said telephone line thereby connectingbase unit to telephone line.
 3. A subscriber's extension telephonesystem as claimed in claim 2, wherein: there is further included anauxiliary telephone connectable by said switching means to saidtelephone line; and in response to said switching means being renderednon-operated, connecting said auxiliary telephone to said telephoneline.
 4. A subscriber's extension telephone system as claimed in claim 1wherein: there is further included a source of operating potential,connected to said signalling circuit by said operated switching means.5. A subscriber's extension telephone system as claimed in claim 1wherein: said ring detection means include an optical coupler circuit.6. A subscriber's extension telephone system as claimed in claim 1wherein: said extension unit further includes amplifier means connectedbetween said radio receiver and said signal transducer operated toamplify signals received by said receiver and couple said amplifiedsignals to said signal transducer.
 7. A subscriber's extension telephonesystem as claimed in claim 1 wherein: said signalling circuit isoperated in response to said manual operation to generate a periodicoutput.
 8. A subscriber's extension telephone system as claimed in claim7 wherein: said signal generating means comprise a tuned circuitinitially operated as a filter and further operated as an oscillator. 9.A subscriber's extension telephone system as claimed in claim 8 wherein:said base unit further includes a mode control circuit connected to saidring detection means operated to switch said signal generating meansfrom said filter operation to said oscillator operation.
 10. Asubscriber's extension telephone system as claimed in claim 9 wherein:said base unit further includes modulator means connected between saidsignal generating means and said radio transmitter, operated in responseto signals from said signal generating means to modulate saidtransmitter in accordance with said generated signals.